This is extremely unlikely and I never want to see it happen, but for the sake of hypotheticals, you need a team with a terrific prospect pool, at least one good young star, and the depth to make this trade without depleting its talent base. I may be biased based on what I see, but that would scream Los Angeles to me. Something like:

Leaving Pittsburgh still very strong down the middle, strengthening the prospect cupboard while still competing immediately. They can't take much more salary back then this as they would still be relatively close to the cap.

Los Angeles is left very strong as based on next year's lineup, particularly if Schenn can progress to the number 2 Center role. They would be able to add Kovalchuk from here if they so desired based on the fact that they took back less salary. And there is so much depth in the prospect pool that it wouldn't be totally depleted.

Let me reiterate: No Desire for this trade. I want Crosby as a Pen for his whole career. Just throwing out a suggestion. It would take a lot because of, as has been said, Crosby's merchandising impact as well as his on-ice abilities.

Only like 5-10 teams have assets to acquire Crosby. Of these teams, at least half are contenders and would not want to break up a successful lineup.

Possibles are:
Kings- Kopitar+ JJ+
Tampa- if they give up Stamkos and Hedman
Blues - would need a package of 3 or 4 of their young stars, including Pietrangelo.
Ducks- Getzlaf+ Ryan/Perry
Maybe Boston- 2nd overall+ Bergeron+

Only like 5-10 teams have assets to acquire Crosby. Of these teams, at least half are contenders and would not want to break up a successful lineup.

Possibles are:
Kings- Kopitar+ JJ+
Tampa- if they give up Stamkos and Hedman
Blues - would need a package of 3 or 4 of their young stars, including Pietrangelo.
Ducks- Getzlaf+ Ryan/Perry
Maybe Boston- 2nd overall+ Bergeron+

That is terrible. what would th epens have to gain by any of those trades. One hting not to forget and have no idea if mentioned is cindy sells tickets. He keeps the pens in the news. He puts th epnes on tv. Those other do not. It goes beyond on ice performance.

If Crosby were to get traded Pitt would never get market value back.
There hasn't been 1 superstar traded that I can recall that the team who traded him got the massive overpayment that some are claiming it would take here.

Listen folks, Gretzky was sold more than traded by an awful and broke owner. The situation in Pittsburgh is a little better...the Penguins are profitable and have a principle owner who is one of the richest men in America (Lemieux and Burkle are about even in ownership stakes and Burkle, in 2008, was worth $3.5 billion)...and the whole Lemieux/Crosby relationship, which is about as much of an amazing talent/amazing talent mentor relationship possible...

With a new arena and stable ownership its hard to imagine things falling apart for the Penguins for a while. Even if things do struggle Crosby makes the Penguins far more money than Gretzky did the Oilers back in the day in the day and age of licensed products being so prevalent. Crosby could make the league max and still double the Penguins investment each year easily. If anything happens and one of the Penguins high priced stars had to be traded off it wouldn't be Crosby. He basically had free reign to name his price for his first post-rookie contract deal, and he chose $8.7 per over 7. Its hard to imagine a guy like him demanding the max, but if he did the Penguins would be all too happy to give it to him.

There just is no realistic circumstance that I can see that would lead Crosby to want out of Pittsburgh with the way things are. He lives down the street from his mentor, is treated like absolute royalty in Pittsburgh, but he still gets enough privacy that he can live a somewhat normal life, he can name his own price and get it, the team is successful, there's a new arena, etc., etc. Everything about Crosby's character says he's not one to stir feathers, and nothing about the Penguins ownership says they're going to turn into Peter Pocklington.